People v. Smith

After a bench trial in the circuit court of Cook County, the defendant, Alfred Smith, Jr., was found guilty of murder and burglary. On this appeal he contends (1) that the trial court erred in receiving his confession in evidence, (2) that he was not proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and (3) that the felony-murder rule was improperly applied in this case.

Judy Tolbert, the decedent, lived in the third-floor rear of a six-flat building. About 2:30 A.M. on October 8, 1970, Sharon Lightfoot, who lived in a first-floor front apartment, heard dogs barking. She then heard glass breaking and…